A coalition of Canadian media organizations has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that OpenAI's ChatGPT product infringes copyright by using journalism without permission, according to a Nov. 29 court filing.
Plaintiffs include prominent news organizations such as CBC/Radio-Canada, the Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail. They are seeking damages and an injunction to prevent OpenAI from continuing to use the content.
The lawsuit, filed in Ontario Superior Court, accuses OpenAI of profiting from unauthorized extraction of Canadian news content.
The group argued that:
“OpenAI is using our content in disregard of copyright laws and online terms of use.”
OpenAI defended its practices, saying its AI models are trained on publicly available information under fair use and related copyright law principles. The company also highlighted its partnerships with news organizations and opt-out options for publishers.
An OpenAI spokesperson told reporters:
“ChatGPT is used by millions of people around the world to increase creativity and solve complex problems. We work with publishers to ensure attribution and ensure that their content We're giving you the tools to control how you engage on our platform.”
But the plaintiffs argue that OpenAI's activities undermine the value of journalism by recycling it for commercial gain. They also disputed OpenAI's reliance on fair use, stressing that their journalism is intended to serve the public interest and should not be exploited for profit.
The lawsuit joins a growing number of lawsuits against OpenAI and other AI companies over the use of copyrighted material to train models. Earlier this year, OpenAI admitted to a UK commission that it is not feasible to train current AI systems without incorporating copyrighted material.
The company has also faced intense scrutiny for missteps, including an engineer who recently admitted to inadvertently erasing key evidence related to AI training data. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for copyright law in the age of AI, as courts grapple with the balance between innovation and intellectual property rights.
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